Canadiens Lineup

Tomas Tatar – Phillip Danault – Brendan Gallagher

Max Domi – Nick Suzuki – Joel Armia

Artturi Lehkonen – Jesperi Kotkaniemi – Jordan Weal

Nick Cousins – Nate Thompson – Charles Hudon

Ben Chiarot – Shea Weber

Victor Mete – Jeff Petry

Brett Kulak – Cale Fleury

Keith Kinkaid – Carey Price

Christian Folin, Mike Reilly

Jonathan Drouin, Paul Byron

Game Report

It was not your typical Saturday night at the Bell Centre. 

The Devils have been near the basement of the league all season long. With considerable difficulty scoring, the Devils were firing pucks from everywhere to greet their former teammate. Keith Kinkaid was kept very busy, but few shots were high quality.

The Canadiens looked sluggish lacking the quick transition game that they had used so effectively against the Capitals on Friday night.

The third period was penalty-filled. Some, like a check to the head penalty on Brett Kulak, was undeserved. What should have been an interference penalty by Victor Mete went uncalled. It was the inconsistency that annoyed fans the most.

But a key penalty to Max Domi was clear and deserved. Domi’s minor for interference and an extra two for unsportsmanlike conduct was the turning point in the game allowing Wayne Simmonds to tie the score. 

Waving off Phillip Danault’s apparent last minute goal was the right call. Sort of. Danault indeed propelled the puck into the net with a kicking motion. But Nico Hischier covered the puck with his glove; a play that should have resulted in a Habs penalty shot.

Despite the mistakes by the men in stripes, the Canadiens undoing was their undisciplined play. And losing the special teams battle. The Devils had two goals on the power-play and another shorthanded.

Claude Julien was not pleased with two goals against in the last minute of both the first and second periods.

The Canadiens best forward was Nick Suzuki. The Canadiens rookie took over the second line centre slot as Max Domi was shifted to the wing. Joel Armia patrolled the right side of the trio.

Montreal’s four centres are now Phillip Danault, Suzuki, Jesperi Kotkaniemi and nate Thompson. While the veteran Thompson has played well to start the season, he will pass the torch to Ryan Poehling, perhaps sometime this season. 

Not to forget that depth in the middle is bolstered by Jake Evans, Jacob Olofsson, Joni Ikonen, Allan McShane and Brett Stapley who are in the prospect pipeline.

Following the game, the Habs announced that Charles Hudon was re-assigned to the Laval Rocket. The Canadiens will have the day off on Sunday, practicing on Monday at Brossard. 

Plus / Minus

▲ Nick Suzuki, Cale Fleury, Shea Weber, Nate Thompson

▼  Max Domi, Brett Kulak, Ben Chiarot, Phillip Danault